Telmo Rodriguez Matallana
Spinifex Tempranillo
Vital, youthful and vigorous. Joven-style Tempranillo with bright, punchy fruit aromatics of damson plum and mulberry that sit above darker dried herb and wood smoke notes. Mid-weight palate with lively red berry and tart stone fruit flavours that mesh with nervy, bright fruit acids and light, snappy tannins. Harvested from a single, elevated vineyard in the southern Barossa foothills. Handpicked early in the season to capture lively fruit and retain natural fruit acids, selected bunches were fully destemmed prior to fermentation in a small open fermenter. The young wine was allowed to mature on its lees for six months prior to bottling without filtration. Spinifex was started in 2001 with the opportunity to source some great old vine Mataro growing in deep white drift-sand on the Barossa Valleys Western Ridge. Owned by husband and wife team, Peter Schell and Magali Gely, their focus is on regional wines from the traditional Mediterranean grape varieties that have been grown successfully in Australia for over 150 years - Shiraz, Mataro, Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan, Ugni Blanc, Grenache Gris, Marsanne and Semillon. They aim to make wines that display signatures of vineyard provenance and vintage, show regional typicity and have a consistent thread of 'house style' that reflects their preferences and experiences with wine. The wines they choose to make are predominately blends, the synergies derived from blending wines of differing character enhance the subtle complexities, even textures and profound personalities delivered from great old vine vineyards.
Bodegas Valdemar Conde Valdemar Rioja Crianza
La Linea Tempranillo
La Linea Tempranillo has floral aromas, with notes of raspberry, mulberry and cherry, and hints of sage and rosemary. Savoury and complex yet fresh, with distinctive fine tannins, it will age for some years.
El Coto Rioja Crianza
This Tempranillo from the renowned Rioja region offers a delicate touch of oak, savoury flavours and light tannins. Vibrant in style and softly structured, it is a fantastic food wine.
Running with Bulls Tempranillo
Running with Bulls Barossa Tempranillo is deep crimson in colour with alluring and evolving aromas. Opening with blueberries, black cherry and cocoa powder the aromas lead to hints of tobacco leaf, Sichuan pepper and rose water. Redcurrants and blueberries are prominent on the palate, with a creamy plush mid palate that finishes with fine dark chocolate tannins.
Marqués De Riscal 1860 Tempranillo
Marqués De Riscal Tempranillo displays dark cherry, with violet hues. Beautifully fresh nose of black forest fruit, liquorice and toasted nuances brought on by the oak casks. Good balance between fruit and ok on the palate, medium bodied with lovely soft tannins.
Bodegas Roda Roda Cirsion Tempranillo
There are minuscule volumes produced of the Cirsion by Bodegas Roda (the name of the thistle which is Roda's logo) which is made from grapes specially selected for the suppleness of the tannins they deliver. Parcels selected are from low-yielding older Tempranillo vines of 45 years and more, from four vineyards. Choosing the plants with the softest tannins, this makes the wine very attractive and supple early on, but it still has great ageing potential.
Artadi Vina El Pison, Rioja
The 2 ha El Pison vineyard was planted in 1945 on a gentle sloping site in the shape of an amphitheatre with deep sub-soils. Made entirely from Tempranillo, El Pison is a very rich and intense age-worthy style typically showing great purity of fruit and abundant chalky tannins that benefit from additional cellaring.
Mazza Tempranillo
Mazza is a new producer to Wine Selectors, who specialise in growing Spanish and Portuguese varieties in the Geographe region of Western Australia. In the glass: Medium red purple.On the nose: Bright cherry berry and earth.On the palate: Intense, dense and concentrated red and black fruit flavours and a fine and elegant acid tannin balance. Shows lovely texture and mouth-feel with amazing youthful vibrancy.